The website dedicated to women's football across the country, at ALL levels of the game

@en

Saturday, January 24, 2026

Back to home page

City leave it late

Southampton 1 Bristol City 2 (aet)

Bristol City reached the last 16 of the Adobe Women's FA Cup after a titanic battle with hosts Southampton at the Silverlake Stadium.

Trailing for much of the contest, the visitors piled on the pressure against a resolute home defence. Just when doubts must have been creeping in as shot after shot flew high or wide of Fran Stenson's goal, up popped Emily Syme to take the match into extra time. The same player then broke Saints hearts with an 118th minute winner but even after that, the hosts could have taken it to penalties but for a fine Fran Bentley save with seconds remaining.

 

After a largely even and uneventful first 35 minutes the contest sprung into life as Mari Ward hit the post with a header for the visitors and then Saints took the lead with a delightful goal. Ellie Brazil found Michaela McAlonie thirty yards from goal and, after tricking the last defender, she measured a perfect lob over Bentley for the opener.

 

Bristol City rang the changes after the break but it was Ward who dragged them back into the game with some excellent wing play down the left. A succession of inviting crosses found no takers although the Saints defence were strong and organised. Finally, though, Syme reacted first to a teasing Ward delivery to level with 12 minutes to go.

 

Substitute Jessie Gale nearly won it for City with the last kick of normal time but it was the same Ward to Syme pairing which settled the deal in the 118th minute. Keeper Bentley then ensured progress with an excellent block in a one on one situation after having had very little to do in the previous two hours or more.

 

Both sides had given their all in a gruelling contest marked by frequent injury breaks but it was the visitors who found a way to earn a last sixteen place, where they will play away to Arsenal.

Southampton: Fran Stenson, Megan Collett, Amy Goddard, Milly Mott, Tara Bourne, Jess Simpson, Chloe Peplow, Mary Bashford, Aimee Palmer, Ellie Brazil, Michaela McAlonie. Subs: Atlanta Primus, Tegan McGowan, Abbie Ferguson, Maria Edwards, Isabel Watts, Ellie Hack, Ella Pettit, Rachel Brown, Ruby-Rae Tucker.

Bristol City: Fran Bentley, Katie Robinson, Esther Morgan, Harley Bennett, Sille Struck, Mari Ward, Sophie Ingle, Marine Dafeur, Vicky Losada, Vera Jones, Rio Hardy. Subs: Emily Syme, Lexi Lloyd-Smith, Jessie Gale, Maria Farrugia, Camila Saez, Malaika Meena, Emily Mutch, Ella Powell, Gemma Lawley.